Indiana State University Staff

Marisa Brooks, Center Director

Marisa Brooks began her career in education over 30 years ago in Japan, where she taught English for many years. A former INTERLINK center director at both Valparaiso University and Indiana State University, she was most recently an instructional designer for Pearson Education, where she focused on teaching methodologies, techniques, theories, and cross-cultural topics. A keen observer of classroom teachers, she has developed a professional practice that includes teacher training and curriculum design and is a licensed CELTA trainer. Marisa holds a BA in English from Central College and the MA in TESOL from the School for International Training.

Jennifer Duncan, Student Services Coordinator

Jennifer Duncan has been the Student Services Coordinator at INTERLINK for four years. She believes that the best part about her job is meeting all of the students and learning about their cultures. Jennifer was raised in a multi-cultural home with a mother who was an ESL teacher. She came to Terre Haute, IN in 1998 to study Psychology at Indiana State University. She is very happy to share her experiences at ISU with new and prospective students. Jennifer’s job at INTERLINK gives her the opportunity to help students in a variety of ways.

Linda Lambert, Instructor

Linda Lambert started working for INTERLINK in August 2012. As a high school teacher of 35 years, she had worked with INTERLINK students at ISU over a ten-year period by participating in a mutual learning activity between high school students and INTERLINK students. Linda has always had a keen interest in international students, and INTERLINK has given her the opportunity to work with students as a teacher. Working with INTERLINK students has given her many personal rewards, and she feels fortunate to have the opportunity. Indiana State University is her alma mater where she earned her BS and MS plus 40 hours in English and political science. Linda’s studies abroad include Arab Studies at the American University of Cairo, Egypt, and as a Freeman Scholarship recipient she studied in Japan and the Republic of South Korea six years ago. Other postgraduate work includes a National Humanities award to study at Vanderbilt University, and a scholarship to study at Harvard at the John F. Kennedy School of Government.

Allyson Newport, Instructor

Allyson Newport has been an instructor with INTERLINK Language Center for fourteen years and has recently taken on the administrative role of Academic Coordinator. As a long time instructor, she believes that “this is the best job anyone could ask for!” Allyson’s experience at INTERLINK has allowed her to interact with students from all around the world including students from Saudi Arabia, Syria, Oman, UAE, Morocco, China, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Indonesia, Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Mexico, and Peru to name a few. Each student has touched her life in a special way, and she hopes that all students have taken a piece of INTERLINK with them as they have continued their life journey. Her love for learning about other people and other cultures began at a young age when she made her first trip abroad at age sixteen. This inspired Allyson to earn a B.A. degree in Russian at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville and to continue her studies at Ball State University where she earned an M.A. in TESOL/Linguistics. She has presented at International TESOL and at Indiana TESOL.

Kylie Carrithers, Instructor

Kylie Carrithers is very excited to be an instructor at INTERLINK, where the staff are committed to preparing students for the realities of university life here in the US. Before coming to INTERLINK, she taught English as a Second Language at Indiana State, and is familiar with what ISU professors are looking for from international students. She has also spent time abroad, both as a student in a Spanish immersion program in Spain, and as a teacher at Rajabhat Mahasarakham University in Thailand. Kylie’s Master’s degree is in Teaching English as a Second Language from Indiana State, where she also earned a B.A. in Cross-Linguistics, which combines linguistics with a foreign language. As a graduate student, Kylie served on the board of INTESOL, the local affiliate of ESL teachers in Indiana.

Megan Whitehead, Instructor

After earning a Bachelor’s Degree in International Studies and Spanish from Indiana University, studying abroad in Sao Paulo, Brazil, and earning a Master’s Degree in TESOL/Linguistics from Indiana State University, Megan Whitehead landed a great career opportunity at INTERLINK. After teaching Spanish at ISU during 2012-2013, she felt the curriculum at INTERLINK provided more opportunities for her to develop as a teacher. Having studied abroad has enabled her to relate to the students and support them throughout their time at INTERLINK. Being from Terre Haute and having studied at ISU, INTERLINK has given Megan a chance to share her knowledge and experiences with students, as well as prepare them for a future at ISU.

Michael Mutti, Instructor

Having taught English in Europe and Asia for several years, Michael Mutti is excited to be teaching in the “foreign country” of the United States of America, once again. His M.A. is in Applied Linguistics, and before that he earned his B.A. in English Literature and German while studying in Wisconsin, where he survived the cold winters. Micheal really enjoys INTERLINK’s project-oriented learning and its mix of international students.